Sunday, May 5, 2013

Of Age and Confusion

Aging confuses my brain... or does confusion come with age ?... Whatever it is, my brain has slowed down in processing things.

I have always thought that root-goot is an Ilocano word.  I used the word root-goot while I was in a conversation last week. Last night, I suddenly thought "root-goot" is not Ilocano!  Now, my confusion starts. This morning, I googled the word root-goot to check if it is by any chance an English word.  First, second, third search of various spellings (root-gut, rut-goot, rut-gut) did not appear in any dictionary, be it Oxford, Webster, Urban etc.  My brain settled then and I convinced myself that root-goot is truly Ilocano. Next step, looking into an Ilocano dictionary!  But, before I did that, I decided to try one more time and googled "rotgut" and here it is, in the Urban dictionary!

[[rotgut  -  Not just cheap, but terrible liquor designed mostly to get you wasted and not much else. The term originated in the old west when many alcoholic beverages were designed purely to be easily afforded by anyone and their dog and to get the drinker hammered, often times, these cheap alcohols would make the drinker sick (due to the extremely low-quality of the ingredients). These days, the term just means something that's not much better in taste than rubbing alcohol and good for nothing more than getting you piss drunk when you're on a budget.]]

Happy to let you know that I used the word correctly in the Ilocano conversation, to mean exactly what it is I was trying to convey. "the term just means something that's not much better"

NB.  It is a good thing  "lo non parlo italiano"  and/or  "Je ne parle pas français ", otherwise my brain needs to be re-wired !   LOL !!!

NB2...English-Ilokano Dictionary: STONE - ag-sardeng kan idta ahh !!!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Spring Inspiration !

Did I shout out a few days ago that I finished/mailed my tax return before April 30th deadline?  Guess what ?!?, my cheque payment to Revenue Canada was cashed yesterday, May 1st   PRONTO !!!

Spring is here finally.  The sun is out and the birds tweeting, I get inspired easily.  These are a few things I did after calculating my brain out! LOL!!!
 
Can not pass sizing up the mega Strawberry with my thumb !

Final Product - Strawberry in Balsamic Vinegar !

Attempting to use left over caramel to give life
to the Creme Caramel aka Leche Flan !
 
Need to Clean-Up !!!


No Pine Nuts, substituted Macadamia. Amelia's Vittorio will say nah ah ahh !!
It tasted good, on crackers !!!

Tonight ... these green vegetable rosebuds
 added to my Vietnamese Pho


Friday ....  a miracle !!!
Shrimps in Avocado base (LOL)
 Few things I discovered about this week's excercise:
I can not multi-task !!! The Creme caramel was slightly overdone (burnt) while I was taking a picture of the strawberry stewed in balsamic vinegar.  Patience is a virtue !!!  Candy Decor, near collapse - not dried to perfect hard candy consistency.  Cleaning up after any experiment is a &^%$#!.  One can not substitute ingredients (in pesto!), or hear of Vittorio's tirade!  Vietnamese Pho must be ordered/eaten in a Vietnamese restaurant.  Friday's Shrimps will be a dream !!!

Hope I get further inspired !!!

Friday, April 26, 2013

RIP Mina F. Sao-ang Class'62

A few years back, as we were getting ready for the Golden Reunion, Mina was one among a few who we needed to contact. Vickie Estepa found her and the news of her passing in the Midland Courier Obituaries:

MINA F. SAO-ANG ANCHALES
68 years old
of Kadaclan, Barlig, Mt. Province and Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet
died on Friday, April 05, 2013


 It is sad that we did not get to see you @ the reunion
Rest in Peace
Mina
Additionally, Vickie had added more info regarding Mina. She was an elementary grades teacher in one of the public schools in Tuba District, Division of Benguet, Cordillera Administrative Region, Department of Education.  A widow and predeceased by 2 children, Mina is survived by 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Happy Birthday Judge !


Fairways of Torrey Pines, North Golf Course, San Diego
A Spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean
 
Birthday Celebrant on a Swing, San Diego


H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y

JUDGE MANNY !!!

San Diego Mini Reunion Class62

Mini Reunion Class62
Davidson "Sonny" Amon, Judge Manny Mayo, Arnold Cabrera
 left: Lilly Amon, Sonny's lady

Lunch at the Fairways of Torrey Pines
Hosted by : Sonny & Lilly Amon

Judge Mayo Gone Golfing


San Diego visit this year April 11-18 was as busy as ever for the Judge and his wife Frieda.  Taking a break from his official conference, he is joined by his golf buddies from Las Vegas to do a few swings in San Diego.  The Golf Pros Nick Rivera and Elmer Alcoba were busy somewhere and can not be found to join in on this mini reunion.

Posing for a smile before the swing 
@ Fairways of Torrey Pines, San Diego

"kodak" pose before TEE time
Arne & Manny with a Las Vegas Golf Buddy 

Monday, April 22, 2013

Manu Taw-en mon?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY mannen Pren !!!
ha-an mo panu-nutten nen iti taw-en mo ahhh!
baka ibagam nga 26 ka mannen!